INCREASES in admission fees will not stop the continuing growth of AIM, the Alternative Investment Market, says Coventry business advisers Grant Thornton.

From April, the prices will vary according to a company?s market capitalisation.

Smaller firms will face a rise of about #2,500 and larger ones will have to pay about #12,500 more. The biggest applicants, with a market capitalisation of more than #50 million, could pay an extra #45,000.

Mark Taylor, transaction support partner at Grant Thornton in Coventry, said: ?News of the increase in admission prices will not be welcomed by some, who already see the cost of going public as significant.

?Nevertheless, we are confident that the market is strong enough to withstand these increases and believe that AIM will continue its steady growth.?